QA Parachuting
For many people the idea of jumping out of an airplane or off a building is sheer lunacy. They do not crave the excitement and the adrenaline rush. For others, though, it provides them with an extreme high and makes them appreciate life more. Still others do it each and every day for their job. Parachuting from a great height takes a lot of courage and a bit of luck. Each time you parachute you have to wonder in some part of your mind whether or not the parachute is going to open. But nevertheless it has become one of the most extreme sports the average person can participate in. It does require some training and practice but it can be rewarding. The problem is that most people who are afraid to parachute are not that familiar with the sport. In this article we will cover some of the basics. Who knows? By the time it is all said and done, you might find yourself with that itch to feel the wind rushing past and the ground miles beneath you as you parachute from a plane.
Are all parachuting attempts made from planes?
No, not all parachuting happens from planes high in the sky. In fact the first attempts to parachute happened from tall buildings. At that time there was nothing that could go to high altitudes. You were stuck with whatever tall building you could find which may have been a good thing because the first parachute designs were not that effective. Since the modern parachute was designed it became more prevalent to jump from planes because you could fall farther and faster before opening up your parachute. But you will always find people that jump from hot air balloons, or even buildings and bridges. That form of parachuting is actually called base jumping though.
How high is the typical parachute jump made from?
The typical jump is made from 13,000 feet. This gives the parachute plenty of time to experience the freefall sensation as well as give him or her time to try some more advanced skills. In the military though there are often occasions when parachuting takes place from a much lower level. But the lower the altitude at which you jump increases the chances of something going wrong. A low altitude jump means you have very little time for errors and often do not even have enough time to deploy the secondary or emergency chute should your primary chute not open correctly. You will also hit the ground far harder since there is not enough time for deceleration.
What is tandem parachuting?
In tandem parachuting, or skydiving, you are connected to a tandem instructor. The instructor is strapped to your back with a much larger parachute. This type of skydiving is very good for beginners because it lets them experience freefall but without having to know all of the details about when to deploy your parachute. With tandem skydiving the instructor uses a drogue parachute. As soon as both of you are free of the plane, he or she will deploy this parachute much quicker than you would a typical parachute. The reason is to slow the rate of descent down to that of a single skydiver. You will be in the air longer and get to experience the feel of freefall more than if you were just skydiving alone. But you should know that tandem skydiving does cost more because there is more equipment involved. For some this is not an issue because they like the comfort of knowing an experienced instructor is there with them at all times.
How fast do you go when parachuting?
In the standard freefall position the skydiver is plummeting at a rate of 120 miles per hour. But there are other positions and types of skydiving that can put you upwards of 310 miles per hour. If you are parachuting with your head pointed downwards you can expect to reach greater speeds. But you have to be careful about what position you are in when you release your parachute. The parachute will open and you will immediately feel like someone is jerking you upwards. Some people experience up to 3G’s of deceleration depending on the type of skydiving they are doing.
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